| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
I also wonder where Aleix Espargaro might've been had he not been riding a "Frankenstein Bike." | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Oh just hang on a mo. Whilst I was there and watched Rossi give everyone a masterclass lesson last year, it does not mean Losail is an exception for him, so he'll always go good there. Rossi goes great at many tracks if you look through his results. The changes since his departure from Yamaha, and from Ducati, have never had so many unknowns pre-season as the most recent changes which took effect for the first time at Losail last weekend. And what they have shown is a few surprises. Well sort of. At least until some chucked themselves down the road that is. What you are overlooking though is either one of two riders could have won it, it was that close. And who were they? Last years sensational rookie winner and current world champion, who did win it by a bike length or so, and the GOAT who was that bike length behind for 2nd. So are you saying Marquez is crap at Losail thus flattering Rossi, as several who binned it would have likely beaten them both? Rocket in England | ||
| Bads1 |
Rocket, Its much easier to stay with a rider when he doesn't have to fight to get through other riders to battle for lead. Rossi didn't have to battle Lorenzo,Bradyl,or smith to get to Marquez. The outcome Im gonna say would be quite different. Just to many riders went down to call this race. But hey.... racing is racing. Im a Rossi fan through and through but we shall see if hes still got the knife. | ||
| Trojan |
To many riders went down that its hard to say where Rossi would have finished if Lorenzo,Bradyl and Smith would of been there to the finish. I think it is pretty obvious that Rossi would have been fighting for the lead regardless of who crashed out (most of whom were behind him anyway). To finish as close aas he did to Marquez and swap positions 8 times in 2 laps shows he has lost none of his desire or speed, and has at least managed to develop the Yamaha (and his style) back to where he is happy on it. That is in contrast to Lorenzo who to be honest never looekd comfotable all weekend. he spent most of his time between practice sessions moaning to race control, Bridgestone and anyone who would listen that the tyres were 'dangerous', and then made a rookie mistake (that he fully admits was his mistake) trying to lead from the front. Its much easier to stay with a rider when he doesn't have to fight to get through other riders to battle for lead. Rossi started in tenth place, 4th row, so had to battle past plenty of other people regardless of Lorenzo crashing out on lap one. His overtakes of Smith, Bautista, Pedrosa et all were pretty clinical I must say. I'm sure once we get to Austin he will be more his old self, and it will be more of a measure of the rest of the season for the top 5 guys. Espagaro showed his lack of experience in qualifying and gave his team too much to do. He was lucky to even start the race given that they had to rob Edwards spare bike for parts. (Message edited by trojan on March 25, 2014) | ||
| Jaimec |
I'm giving Austin to Marquez sight unseen. He's dominated EVERY SINGLE TIME he's been there. I see no reason to expect any difference this year. We'll skip Austin which favors the Honda... for me the real season will begin at the following round. Unfortunately, it'll also mean Marquez will have a damn strong lead already and Honda will have an almost insurmountable lead in the manufacturers battle too. | ||
| Bads1 |
Hes a only been there once. | ||
| Jaimec |
They had a pre-season practice session there last year (because it was a brand new track). Honda and Yamaha both sent their factory riders to a special three day test. Even though Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Rossi were experienced "old hands," and none of them had ever seen the track before Marquez basically whomped all three to set the fastest times all three days. Then when they actually held the race there, he was once again fastest in all practice sessions AND got the pole position. He pretty much OWNS that place. Here's the link, in case you forgot about that pre-season visit in 2013: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Mrquez+completes+triple+as+COTA+test+ends (Message edited by jaimec on March 25, 2014) | ||
| Bads1 |
Jaime it was a practice. It doesn't mean he owns the place. | ||
| Jaimec |
Fastest in all three practice sessions. Fastest in all pre-race practices. Took the pole position. Fastest on the practice before the race, and won the race going away. If that doesn't mean he owns the place, I don't know what does. No one else was even close. | ||
| Bads1 |
That was a year ago. Now the track surface has changed. Lots of rubber down on the track that at that time there was none. We'll have to see I guess | ||
| Trojan |
I have to agree with jaimec on this one. The only way anyone is going to get close to Marquez in texas is if he makes mistakes. The 'Open' class bikes will probably look good in practice again but won't be able to touch him in the race. Neither of the Yamaha factory riders looked comfortable there last year and with the new tyre that could be worse this year, leaving Honda to run off into the distance and take maybe all 3 podium places....... | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Rossi at Losail, I was going to say, but then Matt said it all for me. I don't know which race some of you were watching?? Rocket in England | ||
| Bads1 |
Matt,Jaime, The only reason I said that is because that track last year was a Virgin track. Not much was on it before the bikes. Now its seen a year of cars and bikes and what not. And not only that the Asphalt has had a year to cure and weather from the heat,elements and such. I know the track is suited for higher speeds and the Honda prevails there but also tires come into play as well. (Message edited by bads1 on March 26, 2014) | ||
| Trojan |
The track will be the same condition for everyone though, so my feeling is that Marquez will need to make some serious mistakes to be beaten. if he does get beaten my guess is that it will be Pedrosa, Bautista and Bradl that lead the charge ahead of the Yamaha (factory) guys. I have no idea how the Forward Yamahas will fare though as they seem to be a large dark horse so far and could be either in the running or also rans depending on the tyre choice. Ducati will probably qualify well then finish 6th and 7th if they are lucky. | ||
| Bads1 |
We shall see. | ||
| Jaimec |
I thought they had at least one F1 race at that track before the MotoGP. Don't the cars lay down a LOT of rubber?? | ||
| Bads1 |
Yep they do. And it changes it. They have use different lines as the rider don't like all the car rubber. Thing is lots more is down a year later. | ||
| Trojan |
All it will do is make the track faster for those that are already quick. However, any significant rainfall since the last proper use will wash off most of the rubber and leave a 'green' track again. Unless the track has been used in anger in the last couple of weeks and a lot of rubber put down then it will take a couple of sessions to get up to speed properly. If it has rained or been left to get covered in dust it will need to be 'rubbered in' all over again. One thing is sure though.....the usual suspects will be at or near the front throughout the process and will rise to the top regardless of track condition  Moto 2 will be potentially more interesting again as there are lots of new riders in the class this year. Josh Herrin will be hoping to impress the home fans and last more than one lap hopefully this time, and isn't there supposed to be a US team (Taylor Made?) running as wild cards in the US based Moto2 rounds this year with their unique carbon chassis project? | ||
| Bads1 |
Matt, Sorry but I have heard Stoner,Lorenzo and Rossi complain about cars rubber in corner lines every year at Indy mostly and other tracks. Its like hitting a tar snake. And no rubber doesn't leave the corners for some time when it embedded. Funny how you seem to disagree on just about everything most say. | ||
| Jaimec |
The big complaint at Indy wasn't the car rubber... it was the fact that there were THREE different types of asphalt, and the only part that had any "car rubber" was the part of the track that coincided with the outer oval (used in the Indy 500 and the Brickyard). The rest of the track was only used for the motorcycles which came just one weekend a year. Last year they had a Grand Am race on the inner road course so there was more rubber on the track, but Stoner wasn't there to complain about it. | ||
| Trojan |
Funny how you seem to disagree on just about everything most say. Oh no I don't! (cue Monty Python....) Texas is a new track with new surface last year, so won't have degraded significantly since regardless of use (unless they have been racing 16 wheeler trucks around since?). Car rubber and bike rubber are pretty much the same thing, just deposited in slightly different places, hence you may find no rubber on the track where you want it and loads where yo don't. Rubbe rleft on track by cars is no more slippery than rubber left by bikes (cars tend to leave more oil and fluids on track though!). Certain MotoGP riders used to complain that Donnington park was slippery because it was near an airport so 'allegedly' got covered in jet fuel residue. Most others never had a problem with it. It is the nature of the sport that if you are doing badly you will try to blame some kind of outside factor and track surface is always a good scapegoat. Whatever the state of the track, it is very unlikely to upset the balance of power in MotoGP at the moment. The top teams are the top teams for good reaason  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Oh no I don't! (cue Monty Python....) OK:  | ||
| Jaimec |
 | ||
| Bads1 |
Asphalt when fresh cures..... lots of oil in it. And a year later that oil settles,drys and the elements take care of quite a bit. | ||
| Bads1 |
The lawsuit is over and good for Kevin. I hope this can move in a more positive venture for racing in the US. http://www.cyclenews.com/663/24180/Racing-Article/ MotoGP--Kevin-Schwantz-And-COTA-Make-Up.aspx | ||
| Trojan |
Bridgestone have stated that they haven't been able to make enough 2014 spec tyres in time for the Austin GP, so will revert back to the 2013 spec tyre for that race (funny how they have enough 2013 tyres left over isn't it?). Is this a genuine lack of new spec heat resistant (Honda friendly) 2014 tyres by Bridgestone or is it as a result of pressure by Yamaha and Dorna to produce a tyre that both major manufacturers like? Yamaha, and Lorenzo in particular, have been extremely vocal in their dislike of the new 2014 spec tyre and it wouldn't surpruise me if Bridgestone have been leant on. They say they will have the new tyre ready for the next race after Texas......we will see if that is the case or not | ||
| Trojan |
Bombshell..... Red Bull are poised to make two dramatic announcements over the next two weekends, MotoMatters.com can exclusively reveal. At next weekend's Bahrain F1 race, the Austrian energy drink firm will announce its withdrawal from the premier four-wheeled racing series at the end of 2014. A week later, at the Austin MotoGP round for which it is the title sponsor, Red Bull is to announce that it is to purchase Bridgepoint Capital's remaining stake in MotoGP, and take over the running of the series. see the rest of the article here .. http://www.motomatters.com/news/2014/04/01/red_bul l_to_leave_f1_and_buy_motogp_seri.html But then of course it is April 1st | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Given Red Bull Co are essentially German, and Red Bull team are winning German team with a German world champion winning driver. Nah it's bollocks. No way are Red Bull moving out of F1. Especially not to take over Moto GP. Rocket in England | ||
| Jaimec |
Yeah, in honor of the day, Superbike Planet has announced Ben Spies is coming out of retirement, too. What, no Casey Stoner rumours?? | ||
| Gregtonn |
Given Red Bull Co are essentially German, and Red Bull team are winning German team with a German world champion winning driver. Actually Red Bull is an Austrian company. G |
